Location :

Occupied Palestinian territory (Jerusalem and Ramallah, with travel to other locations in the West Bank)

Application Deadline :

26-Oct-2011

Additional Category

Women’s Access to Justice

Type of Contract :

SSA

Post Level :

International Consultant

Languages Required :

English  

Starting Date :
(date when the selected candidate is expected to start)

1-Nov-2011

Duration of Initial Contract :

5 months

Expected Duration of Assignment :

5 months

In light of the current normative and judicial systems and accountability gaps and as indicated in the Palestinian Justice and Rule of Law Strategy 2011-2013; with regard to women's protection from violence and remedial actions for victims of VAW, the framework of DFID-funded project "SUPPORT FOR DELIVERY OF SECURITY AND JUSTICE SERVICES FOR WOMEN VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE”works within strategic sectors and professional categories - including judges, prosecutors, lawyers as well as the security forces - to set up policies and skills that will increase respect for the rule of law and women's human rights, in accordance with principles and norms embodied in CEDAW, in other internationally recognized civil rights principles as well as in the Palestinian Basic Law, including fair trail free from gender biases.  The activities of the project in the Judicial system hereby aim for the creation of specialized pools of professional categories (including judges, prosecutors and lawyers) skilled to deal with cases of VAW. A multidisciplinary approach will characterize the capacity development modules. The use of CEDAW in interpreting existing laws will also be part of the approach. The outputs of this assignment will be the framework that will build  the professional capacity of the judges, prosecutors and lawyers to enable them to work in a policy for the creation of conducive environment for litigation and to address the need of women victims of violence to benefit from the justice and judicial procedures in light of CEDAW and human rights standards

The “Consultant for the development of training programs for Judges, prosecutors and Lawyers” will be working under the overall supervision of UN Women oPt Head of Office and the direct supervision of the Women Human Rights Unit Project Manager, in close partnership and daily consultation and coordination with the focal points at the HJC and appointed judges, the BAR Association and the Palestinian Attorney General Office. The consultants will report regularly to UN Women.

The main objective of the assignment is to develop a gender sensitive capacity development programme specifically tailored for justice system professionals for the purpose of enhancing their ability to deal with cases of women victims of violence from a gender-sensitive and rights-based perspective. The work of the consultant for the development of the capacity development programme will be closely inter-related with the work being conducted by the other consultants who have been brought on board under the same project and specifically to the consultants supporting the Palestinian Civil Police Family Protection Units.

The international consultant will undertake the following tasks, duties and responsibilities:

·          Work in full cooperation and coordination with the identified judges, prosecutors and lawyers, and with the respective institutional counterparts (HJC, BAR Association, Attorney General’s Office);

·          Lead, in full cooperation and partnership with the local counterparts and ensuring ownership of the process and of the end-result,  the development of the capacity development programme for the three professional categories (judges, prosecutors, lawyers) targeted within the justice system;

·          Draft work plan to be submitted to UN Women for revision and finalization;

·          Use as a reference the initial recommendations and programme outline resulted from previous initiatives undertaken within the justice system;

·          Gather from partners, particularly from HJC, BAR, and the Attorney General Office, all available material and information related to past and current training for professionals;  

·          Conduct research and a desk review of existing training manuals, curricula and materials as well as the existing legislative framework regarding sexual offences and violence against women and children in the oPt;

·          Ensure full involvement of key partner institutions in the finalization of capacity development programme;

·          Adopt a participatory approach with key stakeholders, during all phases of the consultancy work, ensuring ownership of the process as well as of the final deliverables;     

·          Assess availability of local expertise for the implementation of the capacity development programme; Use as reference to the United Nations Model Strategies and Practical Measures to Eliminate Violence against Women in the Field of Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and on available VAW and women’s access to justice available material , adapted to the local needs. The capacity development g material will be also based on methodologies and principles of adult learning;

·          Ensure multi-disciplinary approach to the capacity development programme;

·          Lead the development of the full-fledged capacity development programme, with all related material, and ensure development of quality standards of the material;  

·          Support the local counterparts in developing study tours programs, in Countries with successful models of specialized anti-violence pools within the justice system;

·          Support in the development of guidelines for the interpretation of existing laws in light of CEDAW and human rights standards;

·          Support in the development of orientation sessions or the identification of staff to become part of the capacity development programme and participate as expert professional, as required  

·          Function as UN Women liaison focal point for the development and implementation of the capacity development programme;

·          Function as UN Women coordinator of the capacity development programme;

·          Provide expert support to the local counterparts in implementation of capacity development programmes;

·          Lead, ensuring a participatory approach, the testing of the capacity development programmes;  

·          Regularly update UN Women on progresses and challenges of the assignment;

·          Lead the revision of capacity development programme in line with results of the testing exercise and feedback received;

·          Provide substantive and technical direction to the use of the training material / manual;

·          Provide interim and final reports including recommendations for further capacity development needs of targeted categories;

·          Conduct at least three missions of five working days each, during the consultancy period. The periods of the missions will be agreed upon with UN Women.

·          Produce, within one week from the end of each mission, mission reports.   

Time frame:

The assignment is expected to start 1 November , 2011 and to be finalized in five-month time.  

Key deliverables (all deliverables will be produced in edited English):

1. Work plan of the three missions


2. Finalization of and report on orientation sessions


3. Full-fledged capacity development programme on dealing with cases of VAW for professionals within the justice sector.

CORE VALUES / GUIDING PRINCIPLES:

• Integrity: Demonstrating consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct;


• Cultural Sensitivity/Valuing diversity: Demonstrating an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff. Demonstrating an international outlook, appreciating differences in values and learning from cultural diversity. 

CORE COMPETENCIES:

·          Ethics and Values: Demonstrating / Safeguarding Ethics and Integrity;

·          Organizational Awareness: Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;

·          Developing and Empowering People / Coaching and Mentoring: Initiative-taking; coaching and mentoring ability;

·          Working in Teams: Acting as a team player and facilitating team work;

·          Communicating Information and Ideas: Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;

·          Self-management and Emotional intelligence: Creating synergies through self-control.

·          Conflict Management / Negotiating and Resolving Disagreements: Managing conflict;

·          Knowledge Sharing / Continuous Learning: Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of other.

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES:

• Substantial previous experience in design and development of gender-sensitive training manual, curricula and material within the Judicial sector;


• Demonstrated experience in developing and managing capacity development programmes for professionals within the Justice sector;


• Understanding and experience of Judicial Sector Reform, including in the context of conflict and post conflict situation;


• Sound understanding of issues related to development in crisis and post-crisis situations;


• Demonstrated strong, coordination and facilitation skills;


• Strong communication skills in English (oral and written);


• Results oriented, flexible and problem solving skills.  

Education: 

Advanced University Degree in law.

Experience: 

• At least 7 years of relevant professional experience in the justice sector;


• Extensive professional experience of  prosecution of cases of sexual and gender based violence and crimes against vulnerable groups;


• Extensive professional experience in the area of capacity development of professionals within justice sector, with particular reference to judges and prosecutors, on issues of sexual and gender based violence, including in international settings;


• Proven and extensive experience in the development of gender-sensitive capacity development curricula and materials;


• Ability to interact with governmental agencies, good interpersonal skills and organizational proficiency;


• Knowledge of the Security Sector in the occupied Palestinian territory will be an added advantage;


• Experience with UN Agencies on security sector will be an advantage.

Language Requirements:

·          Very good communication and drafting skills and fluent in English (comprehension, written, and spoken).

·          Communication skills in Arabic will be an added advantage.   

Submission of application:

Interested candidates must submit application, including complete and up to date CV, as per deadline indicated, to the following email opt.counwomen.org , indicating in the subject line: DEVELOPMENT of CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES FOR JUDGES, PROSECUTORS AND LAWYERS, INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT